Doing the Camino alone?

[Sheens]

Hi

I know loads of people do the camino on their own, but i'm very apprehensive about this.. does anyone know where you can hook up with people in advance? Or is anyone planning on doing it in late May?

My fear really is that i'll end up not meeting any other english speakers for the entire 2 weeks and that i'll be very lonely! Silly i know, but i have never travelled on my own so find it a bit daunting.

If anyone is interested in hooking up, get in touch- I'm a 32 yr old fun loving Irish girl.. I have no real plans so far, however i plan on doing 2 weeks of it, from may 16th, and from what i've read, i'd like to start in st jean le peid de port, or perhaps Pamplona... but again, i'm open to all suggestions.. a few people have told me that the earlier stages of the camino are a lot nicer, more picturesque and slightly less busy so that would be my preference i guess.

[Leslie]

Fear is fine, but often has no connection with reality and in this case you will meet many other english speakers on the Camino from all around the world.

If you want to hook up with others check out the other threads that are running on the forum where people are talking about when they are starting - just dive straight in and talk.

All the best.

[Peregrino]

Hi you have nothing to worry about doing the Camino solo. As soon as you are in Saint Jean Pied Port with your crediencial you will meets lots of people of all nationality who speak English. Plus there are always some Brits about.

Buen Camino

[amgirl5]

Hi,

I walked two times alone. Met lots of wonderful people. I found that if you wanted to walk with others there was always that option. From May through the end of September, I think there are always a lot of people.

It also seems that at a certain point you seem to end up with a group of people every night, or every couple of nights, through to the end. Even if you don't end up walking with them during the day, you all kinda' end up looking out for each other.

If you have the time and it's not too hot, I'd recommend walking part of the meseta (Burgos to Leon). There is often an option of a train or bus from many of the villages if you only want to do a little of it. It was less of a shock coming into it, than leaving it and entering Galicia where it's suddenly crowded and you realize you enjoyed the solitude. There are beautiful parts of every day of the trip.

Enjoy, whatever you decide,
Buen Camino,
L

[Sheens]

Amgirl, are the rumours of vicious dogs on the meseta unfounded??!!

I finished up in Burgos 10 days ago and am planning to recommence my Camino in sept, either from Leon or Burgos, but most probably Burgos- I dont want to miss out on the meseta experience. I want to take whatever the Camino throws at me!

As for doing it alone- i wish i never had reservations- i had a fantastic time and in the end was glad i went alone. I made many friends for life, one canadian lady in particular who has had a profound effect on my life, even in 12 days. You are right about ending up in the same ?gang?at nite- we called it our little camino family, there were about 8-12 of us, depending on who ended up where and on what nite. i was gutted that i was finishing up in Burgos, although i think my feet were quite relieved!

For anyone flying from Dublin, this is what i did- it could noth ave been easier- i had 12 days and 13 nites- i flew into Biarritz, started from St jean the following morning, walked for 12 days, got the bus from Burgos to Santander (2 hours) and flew Santader - Dublin (for 10 eur, thank you ryanair!!). It worked out perfectly. Just an aside!

Very much looking forward to recommencing in Sept.

[amgirl5]

Hi Sheens,

I did not have any dog encounters in the Meseta, had a couple other places, mostly I think the dogs were lonely or startled. There was one really angry dog walking into Triacastela, but it was on a chain and it wasn't there on my 2nd Camino.

September was a decent time to walk the Meseta. Holidays were over plus a lot of people skip it, so the crowds had thinned out a bit. Burgos was quite cold, but it got hot again a couple of days out. If you are only going to walk the Meseta, you might think about sturdy walking/hiking shoes rather than boots, depending on your pack weight, and drink a lot of water, both to ward off tendonitis and and heat exhaustion. Coming in and out of the villages involves hills.

Stop by Arroyo Sambol for the food (always seems to be really good) and to rest in the shade. There are no bathrooms, and it's noisy 'til very late at night, but it's an interesting experience. (Stayed there my first Camino, visited on my second and stayed in Hontanas.) In some ways it's a vacation from the Camino, and you can stay up late enough to see the stars. Say "Hi" to Julio, the hospitalero there.

There's a castle you can walk up to fairly easily in Castrojeriz, and the old architecture in Sahagun is cool.

Buen Camino,
L

[John Hussey]

I never saw any vicious dogs but did see a bunch of loud barkers, always tied up within the boundary of their owner's property. After awhile you become used to it and just tune it out without even a glance in their direction.

As for being alone, I guess one could be-but only if one chose very hard to do so. As quickly as one starts the Camino, at the first albergue, one meets many other pilgrims and from then on one is never truly alone, even though one choses to walk alone. It is part of the "Camino Journey" that so many find so fascinating.